Ole Miss to vote on Landshark as new mascot

The Ole Miss Rebels struggled on defense in 2016, a major reason why the program slipped to 5-7. What went wrong, and can it get better? Beat writer Antonio Morales and sports editor Hugh Kellenberger talk about it.
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In this Sept. 24, 2016, file photo, Ole Miss defensive back Myles Hartsfield (15) makes the Landshark sign after a play during the second quarter of the game against Georgia(Photo: Matt Bush/USA TODAY Sports)

The student body president at the University of Mississippi announced Monday an upcoming vote to change the on-field mascot for Ole Miss athletics.

Dion Kevin III, president of the Ole Miss Associated Student Body, said in a letter that students will be able to vote on the Landshark as the new mascot, which would replace the Black Bear mascot chosen in 2010.

"The Landshark as we know it today has its origins in football, but has since expanded to symbolize Ole Miss’s fight spirit and athletic prowess," Kevin wrote. "On September 26th, we will all have the chance to leave a legacy of unity and excitement in a referendum vote in this year’s Fall Election."

There are multiple layers to the matter, and even if there was a "yes" vote, it would still take awhile before any change, if any, of Ole Miss' mascot.

"This effort is an ASB-led initiative, and the athletics department will be involved at the appropriate time," Ole Miss spokesman Kyle Campbell said in a statement. "The leadership of our two organizations have built a strong relationship, and we will work hand-in-hand through this and any matters that are relevant to our gameday experience."

The Landshark has grown in popularity since Ole Miss linebacker Tony Fein first made the gesture in the Rebels' Sept. 27, 2008, upset over Florida.

"With 41 seconds left in the game, Tim Tebow ran an option left, identical to a scoring play earlier in the quarter. As the play developed, Fein rose up, hand to helmet, and the Landshark was born," Kevin wrote.

The debate over the Rebels mascot began when university officials removed longtime mascot Colonel Reb from the sidelines. Retiring the caricature of an old, Confederate plantation owner was part of an ongoing effort by Ole Miss to move away from troubling times in its past marred by racism.

In 2010, a student-led committee was formed to choose a new mascot. While the Landshark was mentioned, it never gained the popularity it seems to have today. The committee instead chose a Black Bear named Rebel.